10 Classic N64 Games That Are Unplayable Today

Many Nintendo 64 games remain enjoyable even now. Games like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Super Mario 64 are considered classics and still hold up well, though they might feel a little old-fashioned. However, a lot of other N64 titles haven’t aged as gracefully, even some that were once highly praised.

Many Nintendo 64 games haven’t aged well, ranging from disappointing installments in popular series like Mario Kart 64 to once-loved titles like Space Station Silicon Valley that are now difficult to enjoy. While a few dedicated fans might still play them, most gamers would probably want to steer clear.

Yoshi’s Story’s Visuals Aged Beautifully, But the Gameplay Didn’t

While Yoshi’s Story remains visually impressive for a Nintendo 64 game – its graphics are designed to resemble a charming pop-up book – the gameplay hasn’t held up over time. It’s a surprisingly easy game, and its short length makes it feel incomplete.

Following the incredible success of Yoshi’s Island – a truly legendary platformer – Yoshi’s Story unfortunately doesn’t measure up. While very young children might still enjoy it, anyone who remembers Yoshi’s Story fondly would likely be disappointed to revisit it.

Space Station Silicon Valley Is a Buggy Mess

Despite a slow start after its 1998 release, Space Station Silicon Valley eventually gained a dedicated fanbase. The game’s unique concept – controlling various animals to solve puzzles – was a major draw. However, despite this clever idea, Space Station Silicon Valley is ultimately a flawed and disappointing game.

The game is riddled with bugs, from frustrating crashes to issues that prevent you from collecting important items. Even when it first came out, Space Station Silicon Valley‘s graphics weren’t impressive – looking noticeably worse than most Nintendo 64 games – and they haven’t aged well over time.

Mario Kart 64 Is One of the Weakest Entries in the Franchise

The Mario Kart series is a fan favorite from Nintendo, with Mario Kart 8 selling over 76 million copies. However, not all games have aged well. Mario Kart 64, for example, didn’t quite make a smooth leap to 3D graphics, leaving it with some of the most visually bland and unclear tracks in the series.

While the controls in Mario Kart 64 haven’t become completely outdated, it doesn’t really stand out, especially considering the existence of Mario Kart World. The N64 version did offer some unique tracks, but…

Excitebike 64 Feels Repetitive Today

I remember when Excitebike 64 came out in 2000 – it totally wowed us with its graphics and how realistic the riding felt at the time! But honestly, playing it now is really tough. The controls just feel clunky and awkward. And the biggest problem? The game slows down so much – like, down to a painful 15 frames per second – at least once on every single track. It’s a shame, because it was so cool back in the day.

Okay, so even if you can ignore the glitches and stuff, Excitebike 64 gets really boring, really fast. I mean, racing against the computer is just… predictable. The CPU bikers do the exact same thing every single race, and it doesn’t take long before you’ve seen it all. It just kills the fun, honestly.

Turok: Dinosaur Hunter Has Way Too Much Fog

Back in the 1990s and early 2000s, game developers sometimes used fog to cover up technical limitations, like objects appearing suddenly. This technique worked well in games like Silent Hill 1, but in Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, there was so much fog that it often made it hard to see and explore the game world.

Even today, Turok‘s controls feel awkward and outdated – the decision to use the R button for jumping is a prime example. However, Turok: Dinosaur Hunter undeniably left its mark on first-person shooter games, particularly with its innovative heads-up display, and remains a favorite for many players.

Okay, so the original Turok? Honestly, it wasn’t great. But I recently checked out the Steam version, and it’s a huge improvement! The controls feel way smoother, and they seriously toned down the fog – which was a nightmare in the N64 game. Seriously, don’t bother with the old version when this one is so much better. You’ll thank me later!

Jet Force Gemini’s Controls Are a Mess

Jet Force Gemini was developed by Rare for the Nintendo 64, and it came from the same team that created the popular game Blast Corps. While it aimed to capture the fast-paced action of arcade shooters, it hasn’t held up over time. Many players find the controls awkward and aiming particularly challenging.

While Jet Force Gemini is ambitious and has a fantastic soundtrack, it’s a game most players can skip. Even the updated version in Rare Replay feels clunky because the controls were really designed for the original Nintendo 64 controller.

Doom 64 Is Literally Too Dark

Doom 64 stood out as a particularly grim game, making it one of the darkest experiences available on the N64. However, it was so dark that players often had to turn their televisions up to the highest brightness setting just to be able to see the action.

The game looked poor on older CRT televisions, but it’s even harder to see on modern TVs. Players generally need to use brightness-enhancing modifications or play the updated 2020 version to make it playable.

While the dim and murky graphics are a major flaw in Doom 64, they aren’t the only issues. The game’s music is among the weakest in the Doom series, and it focuses more on puzzles than the fast-paced action fans expect. Even those who like Doom 64 would be better off avoiding the N64 version.

Conker’s Bad Fur Day’s Humor Aged Better Than Its Gameplay

While Conker’s Bad Fur Day never appealed to everyone because of its crude humor, players who enjoyed that style will still find most of the jokes funny today. However, the game’s slow pace hasn’t aged well, making it feel tedious to play.

Conker’s often requires players to repeat the same tasks multiple times before earning a reward. This is made even more frustrating by a problematic camera system in Conker’s Bad Fur Day, which can make it hard to see and navigate the game.

Beyond these issues, the game has clunky controls and frustrating platforming. If you’re interested in experiencing Conker‘s mature humor, you’ll likely have more fun watching someone else play it.

GoldenEye 007 Has Been Surpassed By Every Other Shooter

Released in 1997, GoldenEye 007 was a groundbreaking game that showed everyone first-person shooters could be successful on consoles. While its influence is undeniable, playing GoldenEye 007 today can still be quite challenging.

With today’s graphics, GoldenEye looks quite blocky, and its slow speed and clunky controls feel very outdated. Rare, the game’s developer, made significant improvements with Perfect Dark in 2000, and that’s the better choice for anyone wanting to experience a classic N64 first-person shooter.

The Original Mario Party Will Leave Players in Pain

Many of these games aren’t very enjoyable due to problems like outdated graphics or awkward controls. But the original Mario Party stands out – it’s so frustrating it can actually make players feel physically bad.

Okay, so the very first Mario Party on the N64? It wasn’t perfect, honestly. Some of the minigames were still being figured out, and they had this really bad problem. A bunch of them made you spin the analog stick super fast, and I mean really fast. People were actually getting blisters, cuts, and even burns on their hands from doing it! It was kinda crazy, and definitely something they fixed in later games.

The issues were serious enough that Nintendo had to pay millions to players who were hurt while playing, providing them with protective gloves. Although the Mario Party series later reintroduced games with twisting motions in Mario Party: Island Tour, newer installments now include a warning message about potential injuries.

2025-12-05 00:41